The Symptoms of Anxiety

Please Note: This list is in no way exhaustive. Anxiety may manifest in an endless array of ways. Also, presentation of symptoms may not mean that you are chronically anxious. By providing this list Rehab Guide is not offering medical advice and this list should not be seen as such. If you are suffering from one or more of the symptoms below, particularly Chest Pains, Nausea Vomiting or extended bouts of Stomach Upset you should contact your General Practitioner.

The Symptoms of Anxiety.

1. Symptoms of the Body or Associated with the Body.

An increase in allergy problems, such as the number and sensitivity of reactions / lengthier reactions.

Persistent Infections. You notice that sickness takes longer to dissipate.

Clicking or grating in the mouth or throat when speaking or moving the jaw.

Vibration, twitching or shaking of the muscles.

Nausea.

Nausea & Vomiting.

Neck tightness / stiffness.

Night sweats. Waking up in sweat, sweating abnormal amounts at night.

Chronic Lethargy.

Localised Numbness on the body.

Localised Numbness on the face, hands or feet.

Persistent muscle tension.

Ponding Heart. The heart feels it is working too hard. Arrhythmia?

Pulsing, Throbbing Muscles.

Rib Cage Pressure. A tightness around the chest. Angina?

Sexual Dysfunction.

Shooting pains or Odd pressures in the neck, head or face.

Tight Scalp. A sensation that your skin in constricting your Cranium.

Skipped Heart Beats. Ectopic Beats? (Arrhythmia)

Easily Startled.

Sweating. Profuse sweating for no apparent reason.

The floor feels it is moving towards/away from you for no reason.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. (You know, TMJ!)

Trembling or Shaking.

Twitching.

Urination. Increase in frequency and urgency of urination.

Weakness. Characterised by a lightness, faintness or ‘softness’.

Weight Loss or Weight Gain.

2. Symptoms of the Chest in Particular (Medical & Psychological). Always consult your GP if you are concerned about pain in your chest. It is better to be safe than dead. Heart Disease is the No#1 cause of death in the UK.

Chest Tremors. The chest feels that it is vibrating.

Chest Discomfort.

Irrational concern about the health of your heart.

Feeling that you have to force yourself to breathe.

Shortness of Breath. Feeling smothered.

Frequent Yawning. Trying to ‘catch your breath’.

Heart Palpitations. Heart beats too hard or fast. Arrhythmia?

Irregular Heart Rhythms. Flutters or ‘skipped’ beats. Ectopic Beats?

Pounding Heart. The heart feels it is working too hard.

Chest Tightness. Rib cage pressure, the ‘tight band’. Angina?

3. Emotional Symptoms. Symptoms associated with moods and feelings. Though the following symptoms are usually grouped together as ‘Paranoia’, this is in fact a psychological state on its own that is influencedby anxiety. See: Paranoia.

A heightened fear of what people think of you.

A fear of being trapped in a place without exits. This is not Claustrophobia.

Constant fear of being over-whelmed.

Fear of being in public.

Irrational fear of dying.

Fear of losing control.

An irrational sense of Impending Doom.

Worry about making mistakes / making a fool of yourself.

Fear of passing out.

Fear that you are ‘losing your mind’.

Fears concerning specific objects, circumstances or situations.

Sudden frightening thoughts or feelings.

Heightened self-awareness / self-consciousness.

A need to seat near / keep a line of sight on the exits.

4. Symptoms of the Head or Associated with the Head.

Burning, itchy or ‘tight’ scalp.

Dizziness. A feeling of light-headedness.

Actual ‘dizzy’ feelings.

Frequent headaches or migraines.

Tightness on the head. A tight band of pressure around the cranium.

Head, neck or shoulder pain.

Head ‘zaps’. Head tremors. Sudden unexplained jolts or bouts of vibration.

Numbness or tingling.

Shooting pains in the neck, head or face.

Odd pressures in the neck, head or face.

A ‘floating’ sensation when you close your eyes.

Sore Jaw. A sensation similar to toothache.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. TMJ for short.

5. Symptoms of the Ears or Associated with Hearing.

A feeling there is something stuck in your ear canal.

Unsolicited Sounds. Sounds you can hear but not ‘place’.

Reduced hearing. Frequent reduced hearing in one or both ears.

Unsolicited Ringing sounds. Tinnitus?

Unsolicited pulsing or throbbing sounds.

Tickling or itching sensations that you cant seem to ‘scratch’.

6. Symptoms of the Mind. Symptoms associated with the mind and thinking processes.

Irrational fear of everything.

An altered state of reality, consciousness or universal feeling.

Frequent Disambiguation. Deja Vu?

Frequent Disambiguation. Deja Vu?

Depersonalization. A feeling that you are simply ‘observing’ the world.

Desensitization. A distinct lack of sensations both good and bad.

Concentration problems. Short-Term memory loss.

Difficulty forming thoughts/speaking/following conversations.

Disorientation.

Frequent Nightmares. Recurrence of childhood ‘night terrors’.

Recurrence of previous sleep disorders. Parasomnia?

An obsession with ‘getting better’.

Repetitive thinking or non stop internal dialogue.

Difficulty learning or retaining new information.

‘Stuck’ thoughts. Images, concepts and songs get stuck in your head.

A feeling of being ‘trapped’ in your mind.

Uneasy apprehension of future events for no reason.

‘World On My Shoulders’ feeling.

Dramatic mood swings.

Irrational Anger.

Lack of patience.

Extended feelings of depression. Recurrent Depressive Disorder?

Preoccupation with death and dying.

Unexplained bouts of crying.

A detachment from things you used to feel strongly about.

7. Symptoms of the Mouth or Associated with the Stomach.

A metallic or ‘ammonia’ smell or taste. Like having a dental filling.

Swallowing too much air causing stomach distension. Aerophagia

Burning sensation or ‘pins and needles’ in the mouth.

Choking for no apparent reason.

Irrational food cravings. Sweets, chocolate or savoury foods.

Constipation / Diarrhoea.

Difficulty in swallowing.

Difficulty pronouncing certain letters or sounds. Slurred speech.

Constant ‘cotton mouth’.

Cautious eating for fear that something will get caught in your throat.

A feeling that your tongue is swollen.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Spastic Colon?

Lack of appetite. Loss of taste sensations.

‘Lump in the Throat’.

Twitching / jumping of the mouth muscles.

Clicking or grating sound when speaking or moving the jaw.

Nausea.

Nausea & Vomiting.

Abdominal Stress or tightness.

Gas. Belching, bloating stomach upset for prolonged periods.

Teeth Grinding.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. The ‘ol TMJ.

Tingly, numb, stretched, aching or frozen sensations in the tongue.

Frequent urination, sudden and increased urgency to urinate.

8. Symptoms Associated with Sleep and Sleep Disorders.

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Frequent bad, bizarre or distressing dreams.

Sounds in your head that jolt you awake.

Insomnia. Waking up ill during the night.

Jolting awake for no discernible reason.

Waking up in a panic.

Feeling worse than usual in the morning.

9. Symptoms Associated with Sight and Sight Disorders.

Distorted, foggy or blurred vision.

Dry, watery or itchy eyes.

Frequent eye tricks. Seeing things in the ‘corner of your eye’.

Increased sensitivity to light.

Spots in the vision.

Occasional ‘flashing’ when the eyes are closed.

Irregular depth perception.

Here endeth the lesson.

Bear in mind that the majority of anxiety related symptoms are psychosomatic. If you feel that you feel bad you are likely to feel bad, which makes it worse!